Bob Mortimer secretly married just half an hour before undergoing heart surgery.

The 56-year-old comic discovered he needed to go under the knife last October and arranged to wed long-term partner Lisa Matthews - with whom he has sons Harry, 18, and Tom, 17 - on the day of his operation after being warned he was "incredibly ill".

He recalled: "I found out I needed heart surgery on the Thursday, so I made a will on the Friday.

"Found out I couldn't get married to Lisa because you have to give 21 days notice.

"But my consultant said I was incredibly ill, so the registrar in London - I don't live in London - gave me permission to get married on the Monday.

"I got married at half 9 on the Monday then went into hospital for the operation at 10."

The ceremony was very intimate, with just Bob, Lisa and their sons in attendance.

Asked if his comedy partner Vic Reeves was his best man, he said: "No, there was just me, the wife and our two kids in the registry office, that's it."

And though he and Vic are preparing to embark on their '25 Years of Reeves & Mortimer: The Poignant Moments' tour, Bob - who had been with Lisa for 22 years before they tied the knot - is also looking forward to celebrating his marriage.

Speaking at a press conference for the tour at London's Soho Hotel, he said: "I haven't had my honeymoon yet, I might go to Barbados."

'25 Years of Reeves & Mortimer: The Poignant Moments' tour kicks off in Leeds on January 30.